Apparatus for finishing hosiery and the like



Feb. 29, 1944. E. w. CLARKE 7 2,343,170

APPARATUS FOR FINISHING HOSIERY AND THE LIKE I Filed July 25, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 29, 1944. i w CLARKE 2,343,170

APPARATUS FOR FINISHING HOSIERY AND THE LIKE Filed July 25, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f- 26 18 f v15. 32 1 21 a O 1 7 Q' 5 31 a?" J 20 a 6 2:5 5 7 T 4 E 11 1 10 g /9 52 16 -a T 4 CTzn ke,

Patented Feb. 29, 1944 2,343,170 APPARATUSIFOR FINISHING HOSIERY AND THE LIKE- Edgar W. Clarke, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Application July 25, 1942, Serial No. 452,311 13 Claims. (01. 223-76) This invention relates to apparatus for finishing hosiery and the like on a drying form and my object is to devise simple apparatus of this character which will save material and enhance the appearance of the finished article.

The constructions are hereinafter fully described and are illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus attached to a drying form carrier,the stroking elements being lowered to permit adried hose to be drawn from and a wet hose to be positioned on the form;

Fig. 2 a view similar to Fig. 1 showing th stroking elements in their raised position;

Fig. 3 a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 a plan view of the parts as shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 a perspective view of the stroking elements;

Fig. 6 a detail showing the welt and part of the cuff finished on a drying form; and I Fig. '7 a detail in end elevation of the stroking elements. I

In the drawings like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

I is a drying form of a boarding machine used for drying and shaping articles such as hosiery 2. The form I illustrated is hollow and is internally heated by directing steam thereinto by any suitable means (not shown). The forms I are advanced by any suitable conveyor designated at 3 which may be constantly or. intermittently operated.

After the hose 2 is manually drawn in the usual manner to the desired position on the form I, it is preferably engaged by barbs 4 as hereinafter described while the cuff 5 including the welt at the end thereof is stroked and thereafter held tautby stroking elements 6, '1 until the hose is completely dried.

The stroking elements 8, I are shaped to engage the opposite sides of the cuff 5. on the form I and are preferably linedwith suitable material such as canvas to cause the cuff to be drawn downwardly and into contact with the form as the elements move downwardly over the cuff and welt. The stroking action is substantially the same as that of an operators hands while manually shaping the cuff on a form. The'free end of a welt or cuff 5 tends to pucker and flare outwardly away from the form particularly at theedges thereof. It the welt be made of cot ton yarn, it is difficult to properly shape such welt by hand.

To spread the puckered welt at the opposite edges of the form evenly and smoothly around the latter, I provide th lower end of the element 6 with prongs 8 which overlie the marginal edges 9 at the lower end of the element I. Above the prongs, the marginal edges of the element I project at I 0 to overlie the marginal edges of the element 6. The uppersuriaces of the prongs 8 are spaced from the lower ends II of the projecting marginal edges I0 to form gaps I2. As the elements 6 move downwardly over the welt, the flared material thereof at the opposite edges of the form is engaged by the prongs 8 and the marginal edges 9 which direct the said material through the gaps I2 from which the material passes under the lower ends II. The flared material is thus spread around the edges of the form and is drawn into contact therewith. To facilitate the spreading of the material, the lower ends I I are rounded and terminate in points I3 whereby thelmaterial is evenly distributed beneath the ends Each of the stroking elements 6, I has a limited pivotal connection with an arm 14. The arms are pivoted on a sleeve I5 which is axially movable on a post I6 carried by a frame H. The latter is preferably secured to the conveyor 3 by drilling the frame to match the bolt holes for securing the form I to the conveyor. The post is offset relative to the .form so that the elements 6, I will encircle the form. The sleeve carries guides I8 for engaging the opposite sides of the form I. The above constructions ensure proper engagement of the stroking elements with any form by automatically compensating for any slight differences in different forms. Springs I9 connected with the arms l4 and the guides It tend to maintain the elements 6, I in their closed, operative position.

The sleeve I5 has a pin and notch connection 20 with a lever III which is secured to a pivot pin 22 journalled in the frame I I. The lever 2| is rocked upwardly to raise the sleeve and thus the stroking elements 6, I after the latter are moved to their open, inoperative position as hereinafter described. The stroking elements are then closed to engage the cuff 5, and the lever is moved out of engagement with the raising means. Thus the stroking lements slide, by gravity, downwardly over the cuff to stroke it. The frictional engagement of the stroking elements with the cuff tends to retard downward travel of the elements.

To control the downward movement of the le ver 2 l, the sleeve l5 and the stroking elements 5, i, and to form a yielding stop for the elements at any desired position on the cuff for accommodating various lengths of garments, I provide the following means. To the pivot pin 22, is adjustably secured a finger 23, which rocks with the lever 21. A sprin actuated member 24-, journalled on the pivot pin 22, is provided with 2. lug for engaging the frame to limit its movement in one direction. The finger 23 is adapted to engage the member 24 on the downward move.- ment of the lever, sleeve, and stroking elements whereby the spring or springs 24* connected with the member 24 are tensioned, thereby bringing the stroking elements to rest. By adjusting the finger 23 relative to the lever 2| and thus to the member 24, the downward movement of the lever before encountering the member 24 may be varied to vary the position of rest of the stroking elements relative to the welt. The preferred po. sition of rest is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 in which the welt is substantially midway between the upper and lower ends of the stroking elements.

To clear the welt and cuff 50f the hose the form 1 during the raising of the stroking elements 6, I, the latter are moved laterally of the form to an inoperative position. This is accomplished by swinging the arms M away from one another to open the elements against thetensicn of their springs I9. A bar 25 journalled in the frame I! has an upwardly extending thin flat end which freely passes between anti-friction rollers 26 carried by the arms. The width. of the flat end of the bar 25 is such that when the bar is turned 90 the. rollers 26 are engaged by the edges of the flat end to. spread apart the arms l4 and thus open the elements .6. and 1. The lower end of the bar is provided with two pins 27, 28. arranged at right angles. to one another for en.- gaging abutments 29, 3.0, seriatim, tocause the elements to be opened, and then closed. Pref; erably the stroking elements are operated twice in which case a second set of abutments 292*, 3i)" will be employed to. hold the. elements 6, Topen while'they are being raised and to permit the springs I9 to hold the .elementsyieldingly in. con. tactwith the cuff. 5 to stroke the latter and the welt during the lowering of the elements.

The barbs 4. are provided to retain theleg portion 32 of the hose Zin its proper position on the form ,I so that the upper part of the cuff .5. will not be stretched above an imaginary line across the shoulders 33. of-the form. Any suitablezmeans may be provided for causing a relativemovement of the hose and barbs toiree the hose from the barbs and impale the hose ,on the barbs. Preferably, the barbsare adapted to extend through holes in the shoulders 33 of the form. and. are carried by wires secured to one end of a lever 34. The lever is pivotedat 315 on the frame I! and its free end is adapted to be engaged by an adjustable extension on. the sleeve 15. asthe latter nears its lowermost position. Thus the barbs 4 are, raised, to withdraw them from engagement with the hose and out of the path of the operators hands when the stroking elements 6, I are in their lowermost position. The open ator may now remove the dried hose from the form and position a wet hose thereon.

It ll be n ted that the cuif .5v is relatively smaller than the leg portion 32, and thatgthev form I is-s apeq corr spond, .theshoulders :33. bein at the juncture of the cuif and leg portions oh the form. The cufi 5 is thus stretched outwardly as it is drawn over the larger leg portion of the form which increases the flaring and puckering of the cuff and welt.

Referring to Fig. 1, the stroking elements 6, 1 are in their lowermost position, the barbs retracted, and a wet hose, indicated by broken lines, is shown o-nthe form I. As the conveyor 3 is moved, an anti-friction roller 3'! on the lever 2! engages a stationary inclined surface 38 which raises the lever and thus the sleeve l5 and extension 36 a slight distance to permit the barbs 4 to pass through the fabric of the hose while the junction of the cuff 5 and leg portion 32 is properly positioned relative to the shoulders 33 of the form.

The pin 27 engages its abutment 25 to turn the bar 25 and open the stroking elements 6, 1. This movement of the bar positions the pin 28 to engage its abutment 30 after the roller 37 engages the stationary cam face 39 to cause the sleeve 15 and thus the stroking elements 6, 7 to be raised to the desired height above the lower end' of the cult. (See Fig. 2.) The pin v28 engages the abutment 30 to returnthe bar 25 to its original position in which the springs 19 urge the elements 6, 1 towards one another about the cufi. The roller 31 is now clear of the cam face 39. Thestroking elements slide by gravity over the welt to the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. During this movement the welt is shrunk and smoothed against the form as hereinbefore described.

A second stroking movement may be imparted to the cuff by repeating the above operations. In this case the pin 21 engages a second abutment 29 toopen the stroking elements, the roller 31 engages a second cam face 39 to raise the elements, the

pin 28 engages a second abutment 30 to close the elements and the roller 31 moves past the, cam face 3.! to permit the elements to again stroke the cuff. The springs 24 again limit the stroking movement of the elements 6., l which will remain in their stopped position to hold the cuff F taut during the drying of the hose on the form I.

The stroking elements 6, I and the sleeve are then lowered to their lowermost position by a lowering cam 40 which is engaged by the upper surface of the roller 31 of the lever 2|. The extension 36 engages the lever 34 to disengage the barbs 4 from the hose whereby it may be removed from the form.

The further tensioning of the springs 24 by the lowering cam 40 serves to assist the raising of the lever 2|, sleeve l5 and stroking elements 6, I when the roller 3'! again engages the cam 39.

The cams 38, 39, 39 and 40, and the abutments 29, 29 30 and 3i! may be carried by any suitable support such as the frame of a boarding machine on which the conveyor 3 travels.

It will be distinctly understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as my invention is: a

1. Apparatus for finishing hosiery and the like on a. drying form, comprising a frame; a sleeve axially movable on the frame; a pair of elements pivoted on the sleeve for stroking an article on the form; spring means tending to close the elements around the article; means for openingthe elements-to clear the article; a lever pivoted on the frame for actuating the sleeve to raise the elements while they are open; a finger movable with the lever; a spring actuated member. having a limited. movement in one direction and being adapted to be engaged by the finger-to limit the downward movement of the stroking elements; andmeans for actuating the lever to raise the sleeve.

2. Apparatus for finishing hosiery and'the like comprising a drying form; and a pair of elements for stroking the cuff of a hose on the form, one of the elements having prongs at its lower end to overlie the marginal edges at the lower end of the other element, the marginal edges of said other element above the prongs beingprojected to overlie the marginal edges of the first element above the prongs thereon, the upper surfaces of the prongs being spaced from the lower ends of the projecting marginal edges to form gaps through which flared ends of the cuff at the op- .posite edges of the form are drawn inwardly against the form during the descent of the elements.

3. Apparatus for finishing hosiery and the like comprising a drying form; means adapted to secure and retain a stretched leg portion above the cufi of a hose on the form; means for stroking the cuff downwardly; means for moving the stroking means laterally relative to the form to clear the cuff; means for raising the stroking means while clear of the cuff; means for moving the stroking means to a position below the cuff; and means controlled by the raising means for causing the leg portion of the hose to be released from and secured by the retaining means.

4. Apparatus for finishing hosiery and the like comprising a drying form; barbs adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with a stretched leg portion above the cuff of a hose on the form; means for stroking the cufi downwardly; means for moving the stroking means laterally relative to the form to clear the cuff; means for raising the stroking means while clear of the cuff; means for moving the stroking means to a position below the cuff; means actuated by the stroking means when nearing its lowered position for moving the barbs out of engagement with the hose; and means for initially raising the stroking means to cause the barbs to engage another hose stretched on the form.

5. Apparatus for finishing hosiery and the like comprising a frame; a post carried by said frame; a sleeve axially and rotatably movable on the post; a drying form carried by the frame in spaced relationship to the post; guide means carried by the sleeve for engaging the form; means for raising the sleeve and permitting it to drop; a pair of stroking elements .pivoted on the sleeve adapted to engage an article on the form and to move longitudinally relative to the article when the sleeve and elements are permitted to drop; and means for opening the elements to clear the article while the elements are being raised.

6. Apparatus for finishing hosiery and the like comprising a drying form; and a pair of elements for stroking an article on the form, the lower ends of the elements having parts overlying one another to form gaps through which flared ends on the article are drawn inwardly against the form during the descent of the elements.

'7. Apparatus for finishing hosiery and the like comprising a drying form; and a pair of elements for stroking the cuff of a hose on the form, one of the elements having prongs at its lower end to overlie the marginal edges at the lower end of the other element, the marginal edges of said other element above the prongs being projected to overhe the marginal edges of the first element above the prongs thereon, the upper surfaces of the prongs being spaced from the lower ends of the projecting marginal edges to form gaps through which flared ends of the cuff at the opposite edges of the form are drawn inwardly against the form during the descent of the elements, the said lower ends of the projecting marginal edges being rounded to facilitate even distribution ofthe flared ends around the'edges of the form as the flared ends are drawn through the gaps;

8. Apparatus for finishing hosiery having cuff and leg portions, comprising a drying form having'corresponding cuff and leg portions and having shoulders at the juncture of said portions, the cuff portions of the hose and form being relatively smaller circumferentially than the leg portions of said hose and form; means adjacent the shoulders for securing and retaining the leg portion of the hose in its stretched position on the leg portion of the form; and a pair of stroking elements adapted to frictionally engage the cuff of the hose and to move longitudinally relative thereto to cause the cuff to be drawn into contact with the cuff portion of the form as the elements move downwardly over the cuff.

9. Apparatus for finishing hosiery having cuff and leg portions, comprising a drying form having corresponding cuff and leg portions and having shoulders at the junctur 'of said portions, the cuff portions of the hose and form being relatively smaller circumferentially than the leg portions of the hose and form; means adjacent the shoulders for securing and retaining the leg portion of the hose in its stretched position on the leg portion of the form; a pair of stroking elements adapted to frictionally engage the cuff of th hose; means for opening and closing the elements to clear and engage the cuff respectively; means for raising the opened elements to a predetermined point above the lower end of the cufi; and means for causing the opening and closing means to close the elements while in their raised position, the elements being adapted to slide by gravity over the cuff to cause it to be drawn into contact with the cuff portion of the form.

10. Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 9 in which means are provided for limiting the normal downward movement of the stroking elements to bring them to rest while in engagement with the welt on the lower end of the cuff so that the welt may be shrunk on the form.

11. Apparatus for finishing hosiery and the like comprising a drying form; a pair of elements adapted to frictionally engage and move longitudinally relative to an article on the form while the elements are engaged with the article; means for opening the elements to clear the article; means for raising the elements relative to the article when they are clear thereof and subsequently permitting the elements to descend; and spring means for urging the elements into engagement with the article to cause the engaged portion of the article to be pressed against the form, the said elements being adapted to move downwardly relative to and over the article to stroke it longitudinally during the descent of the elements.

12. Apparatus for finishing hosiery and the like comprising a drying form; a pair of elements adapted to frictionally engage and move longitudinally relative to an article on the form while the elements are engaged with the article; means including a thin fiat rotatable bar extending substantially parallel to the drying form for closing and opening the elements; means for raising the elements relative to the article and: the bar when the elements are opened and subsequently permitting the elements to drop when they are closed; andspring means tending; to close thezelements about the article topress it against the form, the elements being adapted to move downwardly relative to the, article and thus slide over the article to stroke it longitudinally during the dropping movement of the elements.

13. Apparatus for finishing hosiery and the like comprising a drying form; a pair of elements adapted to frictionally engage and move longitudinally relative to an article on the form while the elements are engaged with the article; means including a thin flat rotatable. bar extending substantially parallel to the drying form for closing and opening the elements; means for turning the bar to open the elements; means for raising the elements when they are opened; means for turning the'bar to permit the elements tube-closed while in theirraised position; and means tending to close the elements and for urging them into frictional engagement with the article on the form, the elements being adapted to move downwardly relative to the article and thus slideover the article while frictionally engaged therewith.

EDGAR W. CLARKE. 

